Ukraine War Thread Part 2
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
NEW: Putin needs the US to choose inaction in Ukraine, otherwise Russia cannot win. If Russia wins in Ukraine, @nataliabugayova says in a new essay, US adversaries will learn that America can be manipulated into abandoning its own interests in a winnable fight.
https://www.understandingwar.org/bac...eat-and-beyond
https://www.understandingwar.org/bac...eat-and-beyond
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Russia: Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant belonging to Rusal on fire after a massive explosion.
Somewhat graphic.
Possible the maggots kept him alive by eating the dead/damaged tissue? They are certainly used clinically to manage ulceration and other conditions with damaged tissue: https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...eal-ML3770.pdf
Possible the maggots kept him alive by eating the dead/damaged tissue? They are certainly used clinically to manage ulceration and other conditions with damaged tissue: https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...eal-ML3770.pdf
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Translation:
The thing that's selling well at the moment, in #Ukraine , is this: masks for old people, to avoid forced mobilization. It's a good thing, at least until the Ukronazi authorities raise the age of forced recruitment to 80...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
The following users liked this post:
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Russian based total bullsh*t but I will post in anyway.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
Russian pontoon bridge being constructed and shown off.... very pretty, but try doing that over a contested waterway and see how well it goes together and also how long it lasts.
Last edited by NutLoose; 4th Jan 2024 at 12:30.
Ground Launched ASRAAM Achieving 90% Hit Rate In Ukraine:
https://aviationweek.com/defense-spa...t-rate-ukraine
https://aviationweek.com/defense-spa...t-rate-ukraine
The air defense system was developed by a joint team from the UK defense ministry and MBDA and fielded in just four months, defense officials announced in late December.Details have finally emerged following the August 2023 publication of a single image of the system on the front line in Ukraine. That image showed the Asraam missiles mounted on launch rails fitted to a Supacat high-mobility vehicle and possibly cued by an electro-optical system.
The following users liked this post:
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,449
Received 3,192 Likes
on
1,339 Posts
BAe to put the M777 artillery back into production. Not bad for a Vickers design.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe..._howitzer.html
BAE Systems is gearing up to resume the production of components for the M777 howitzer, a move driven by a surge in demand for this artillery piece after its remarkable performance in the Ukraine conflict, according to Sylvie Pfeifer's report in the Financial Times. BAE Systems has inked an initial $50 million agreement with the US Army to kickstart a fresh program while they finalize the specifics of a more extensive contract.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this linkThe M777, weighing in at 4,200 kg (9,300 lb), is 41% lighter than its predecessor, the 7,154 kg (15,772 lb) M198 howitzer, thanks in large part to the extensive use of titanium. Its gun barrel doubles as a towing bar, with the connecting ring forged as an extension of the muzzle brake. The M777 can be transported via helicopter sling-load, transport aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, or towed by air-braked vehicles weighing over 2.5 tonnes (5,500 lb). The minimum required gun crew has been reduced from nine to five, with a normal crew size of eight. However, the rate of fire decreases with a minimal emergency crew. The M777A1 and M777A2 utilize a digital fire-control system similar to that found on self-propelled howitzers like the M109A6 Paladin, which enables quick deployment through navigation, pointing, and self-location capabilities.
BAE noted a substantial increase in global interest in this weapon from countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. The US, Canada, and Australia have all provided M777s to Ukraine, where they have proven highly effective against Russian invasion forces. Currently, over 1,250 M777 howitzers are in service with ground forces in Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States, with its first combat use in the War in Afghanistan.
BAE anticipates that the new contract and the revitalized production line for components will lead to orders for complete M777 howitzers. While the primary manufacturing takes place in the UK, the assembly often occurs in the US, Sylvie Pfeire mentions. The company intends to collaborate with suppliers in both the UK and the US to manufacture the essential M777 titanium structures forming the core of the weapon, with the first parts expected to be delivered in 2025. This contract "creates the ideal conditions for the resumption of M777 production in the UK and offers an opportunity for new and existing users to participate in a new M777 production initiative, benefiting from a well-established production line and economies of scale," stated the company on January
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this linkThe M777, weighing in at 4,200 kg (9,300 lb), is 41% lighter than its predecessor, the 7,154 kg (15,772 lb) M198 howitzer, thanks in large part to the extensive use of titanium. Its gun barrel doubles as a towing bar, with the connecting ring forged as an extension of the muzzle brake. The M777 can be transported via helicopter sling-load, transport aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, or towed by air-braked vehicles weighing over 2.5 tonnes (5,500 lb). The minimum required gun crew has been reduced from nine to five, with a normal crew size of eight. However, the rate of fire decreases with a minimal emergency crew. The M777A1 and M777A2 utilize a digital fire-control system similar to that found on self-propelled howitzers like the M109A6 Paladin, which enables quick deployment through navigation, pointing, and self-location capabilities.
BAE noted a substantial increase in global interest in this weapon from countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. The US, Canada, and Australia have all provided M777s to Ukraine, where they have proven highly effective against Russian invasion forces. Currently, over 1,250 M777 howitzers are in service with ground forces in Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States, with its first combat use in the War in Afghanistan.
BAE anticipates that the new contract and the revitalized production line for components will lead to orders for complete M777 howitzers. While the primary manufacturing takes place in the UK, the assembly often occurs in the US, Sylvie Pfeire mentions. The company intends to collaborate with suppliers in both the UK and the US to manufacture the essential M777 titanium structures forming the core of the weapon, with the first parts expected to be delivered in 2025. This contract "creates the ideal conditions for the resumption of M777 production in the UK and offers an opportunity for new and existing users to participate in a new M777 production initiative, benefiting from a well-established production line and economies of scale," stated the company on January
The following 4 users liked this post by NutLoose:
Russian pontoon bridge being constructed and shown off.... very pretty, but try doing that over a contested waterway and see how well it goes together and also how long it lasts.
https://twitter.com/simpatico771/sta...69290983334241
https://twitter.com/simpatico771/sta...69290983334241
Did you bother to read the Newsweek article? (FWIW, I tend to agree with General Hodges' assessment).
If Ukraine is willing to accept the risk that some of the 'shelf-life-expired' missiles may not perform up to spec, then I'd say it's their risk to take and that disposing of the missiles is a needless waste. (Or someone needs to be paid to perform the upkeep mentioned in the article).
Be aware of something else: there is about a 99.9% chance a DoD contract is on file, and active, written before the 2022 invasion began (5 years contracts are common), that programmed money for some company to dispose of overage / non-serviceable munitions.
Whomever is to be paid for that work is going to get all up in the grill of their Congressman (and DoD) if their services contract is terminated, but, I am pretty sure that there are ways around that for DoD if someone bothers to put in the effort.
(I recall some provisions for "termination at convenience of the government" and a fee structure attending that, but it's been so many years since stuff like that was in my job description that I'll not further comment).
Originally Posted by from the part beyond the headline
A lot hinges on just how far past the expiry date a weapon is, but a missile could have even years of life left in it past this date, said Hodges. Not sending ATACMS based on shelf life is a political decision, rather than one concerned with safety, he added. A given shelf-life is not always an accurate indicator of whether a missile is functional, agreed Fabian Hinz, a research fellow specializing in Middle East defense and military analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.
The ATACMS provided to Ukraine are thought to have a range of around 100 miles. Around 1,650 of the Block I missiles—the type supplied to Ukraine—were made in the decades since they were introduced, according to Reuters. Fewer than 1,114 M39 and M39A1 warheads are still in U.S. stores, the news agency reported in mid-October, with many having been used in U.S. operations or having undergone modification.
The key part is keeping the motor of a solid-propellant rocket in good condition, he told Newsweek. This all depends on the manufacturing quality and the conditions under which the missiles are stored, he said, as it is "not very forgiving when it comes to minor issues."
With ATACMS—which use a single-stage solid propellant motor—there would need to be some quality control, but the shelf life "could be higher than advertised," Hinz said. Longer-range MGM-140 ATACMS are still used by the U.S., presenting a different and more difficult political and military challenge, Rice said. But there are "tens of thousands" of outdated rockets of various types that Ukraine could fire from HIMARS waiting to be destroyed, he said, and the U.S. is also looking towards its new Precision Strike Missile to take the ATACMS' place.
With enough M39s, Ukraine could disrupt Russian supplies from Crimea to its forces in southern Ukraine, also known as the land bridge, Rice said. From where the front lines are currently located in the south and the east of the country, Ukraine's M39 ATACMS can reach the Sea of Azov and target key assets in Russian-occupied territory, he added. With more ATACMS, Ukraine can make "prime targets" out of Russian bases, infrastructure and troop formations across tens of thousands of square miles of territory, he said. With nearly 1,000 sub-munitions in each M39 rocket, more cluster ATACMS mean higher Russian casualties, Rice added.
But cluster variants have shorter ranges, and are not suited to striking Russian infrastructure or assets close to inhabited areas like the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, Hodges said. The operational requirement for more ATACMS, including the unitary warhead version, is "absolutely there," he said.
The ATACMS provided to Ukraine are thought to have a range of around 100 miles. Around 1,650 of the Block I missiles—the type supplied to Ukraine—were made in the decades since they were introduced, according to Reuters. Fewer than 1,114 M39 and M39A1 warheads are still in U.S. stores, the news agency reported in mid-October, with many having been used in U.S. operations or having undergone modification.
The key part is keeping the motor of a solid-propellant rocket in good condition, he told Newsweek. This all depends on the manufacturing quality and the conditions under which the missiles are stored, he said, as it is "not very forgiving when it comes to minor issues."
With ATACMS—which use a single-stage solid propellant motor—there would need to be some quality control, but the shelf life "could be higher than advertised," Hinz said. Longer-range MGM-140 ATACMS are still used by the U.S., presenting a different and more difficult political and military challenge, Rice said. But there are "tens of thousands" of outdated rockets of various types that Ukraine could fire from HIMARS waiting to be destroyed, he said, and the U.S. is also looking towards its new Precision Strike Missile to take the ATACMS' place.
With enough M39s, Ukraine could disrupt Russian supplies from Crimea to its forces in southern Ukraine, also known as the land bridge, Rice said. From where the front lines are currently located in the south and the east of the country, Ukraine's M39 ATACMS can reach the Sea of Azov and target key assets in Russian-occupied territory, he added. With more ATACMS, Ukraine can make "prime targets" out of Russian bases, infrastructure and troop formations across tens of thousands of square miles of territory, he said. With nearly 1,000 sub-munitions in each M39 rocket, more cluster ATACMS mean higher Russian casualties, Rice added.
But cluster variants have shorter ranges, and are not suited to striking Russian infrastructure or assets close to inhabited areas like the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, Hodges said. The operational requirement for more ATACMS, including the unitary warhead version, is "absolutely there," he said.
Be aware of something else: there is about a 99.9% chance a DoD contract is on file, and active, written before the 2022 invasion began (5 years contracts are common), that programmed money for some company to dispose of overage / non-serviceable munitions.
Whomever is to be paid for that work is going to get all up in the grill of their Congressman (and DoD) if their services contract is terminated, but, I am pretty sure that there are ways around that for DoD if someone bothers to put in the effort.
(I recall some provisions for "termination at convenience of the government" and a fee structure attending that, but it's been so many years since stuff like that was in my job description that I'll not further comment).
Be aware of something else: there is about a 99.9% chance a DoD contract is on file, and active, written before the 2022 invasion began (5 years contracts are common), that programmed money for some company to dispose of overage / non-serviceable munitions.
Whomever is to be paid for that work is going to get all up in the grill of their Congressman (and DoD) if their services contract is terminated, but, I am pretty sure that there are ways around that for DoD if someone bothers to put in the effort.
(I recall some provisions for "termination at convenience of the government" and a fee structure attending that, but it's been so many years since stuff like that was in my job description that I'll not further comment).
Whomever is to be paid for that work is going to get all up in the grill of their Congressman (and DoD) if their services contract is terminated, but, I am pretty sure that there are ways around that for DoD if someone bothers to put in the effort.
(I recall some provisions for "termination at convenience of the government" and a fee structure attending that, but it's been so many years since stuff like that was in my job description that I'll not further comment).
Perhaps there's a market for "refurbished" missiles, where only time-expired components are replaced (indeed this may be what's done already).
The following users liked this post:
The lead tank in that push was fitted with mine clearing equipment, but looks like it was taken out by a mine. That should be of concern to what passes as "brains trust's" in RuZZia.
Originally Posted by from the part beyond the headline
(...) The key part is keeping the motor of a solid-propellant rocket in good condition, he told Newsweek. This all depends on the manufacturing quality and the conditions under which the missiles are stored, he said, as it is "not very forgiving when it comes to minor issues. (...)
I'm sure someone will offer to 'refurbish' but my guess is that it's cheaper to manufacture a brand new motor.
The following users liked this post:
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Ukrainian agents burned down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber last night at an airfield in Chelyabinsk, deep inside Russia near the Ural Mountains.
The plane was worth USD 35 million
Striking deep behind enemy lines is always a good idea…
The plane was worth USD 35 million
Striking deep behind enemy lines is always a good idea…